In Whose Shoes?

Pittsburgh Steelers fans are hardcore. I knew that, but I really realized it after my son moved to Pittsburgh. People would come into the Lowe’s store where he worked, sporting permanent tattoos of a favorite Steelers player. Jamie noticed the #7 emblazoned on the arm of one diehard fan. “What will you do if Roethlisberger gets traded?” Jamie asked curiously. I guess it would then become a piece of memorabilia.

More recently, into the Firestone at which Jamie now works rolled a unique car... half of it was painted gold, and the other half was painted black. On one side was painted the word “Steelers,” on the other, “Pirates,” and on the roof, “Penguins.” The interior sported black and gold seatcovers and floormats. Somebody’s passion for Pittsburgh sports had surely become a moving landmark around the city, and created somewhat of an identity for its owner.

People get their identities from other areas besides sports. We find our identities in actors and actresses, music idols, the wealthy, the successful, the famous, the beautiful. We watch their movies, buy their CD’s, wear their T-shirts, read their books, support their causes, defend their lifestyles and excesses, and too often adopt their viewpoints. What’s with this hunger we have to live in somebody else’s shoes?

I think it’s because we know, instinctively, that ours don’t make big enough footprints. But it takes awhile to realize that nobody else’s does, either. The only person really worth identifying with, in the end, is Jesus Christ.

The apostle Paul discovered this, and wrote, “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus, for whose sake I have lost all things...I want to know Christ, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death...” In fact, Paul went so far as to say that, “For to me, to live is Christ.”

Now that’s identifying – and with someone who won’t ever have a losing season or be traded to another franchise. Someone Who won’t let us down, set a bad example, disappoint, embarrass, or reject His “fans.” In fact, He invites us to follow Him. To be like Him.

And the curious thing is, we are never more uniquely ourselves than when we identify with the right Person.